Patrol

Phoenix Officer Wounded, Saved by Armor in Gunfight

A Phoenix police officer was wounded in an exchange of gunfire with a man who led police on a cross-city pursuit Wednesday night, police said. The man also was shot and wounded by police in the gunfire, said Phoenix police Sgt. Mercedes Fortune.

The incident began about 7:40 p.m. with a traffic stop when police exchanged gunfire at a person inside the vehicle, she said.

From there, police pursued the vehicle east through Phoenix, guided by a police helicopter. The vehicle was disabled with a spike strip, AZCentral reports.

At that point, more gunfire was exchanged between the man and police, who ended up shooting the man, Fortune said. The man also shot one of the Phoenix officers, who was wounded but likely was saved by his protective vest, Fortune said.

The officer's injuries are not considered life-threatening. The suspect was not identified but is in police custody at a hospital, where he is in serious condition, Fortune said.

Scanner audio captured an officer’s account of what happened at the scene, CWBChicago reports: “Ten people surrounded me, indicating that they had firearms. And one person pulled him away from me, holding his waist, indicating that he would use a firearm against me.”

There were so many police officers, sheriff’s deputies and Highway Patrol troopers that the court appearance had to be moved out of Justice Court to Judge John Larson’s Courtroom Number Three on the third floor of the Missoula County Courthouse.

The vehicle pursuit ended in the town of Kittitas where Deputy Thompson was backed up by Officer Benito Chavez. The suspect exited the vehicle and exchanged shots with the two law enforcement officers.

Sarah Wilson and her boyfriend were arrested during a stop in Chesapeake after officers allegedly found drugs in the 1996 Lexus the couple were driving. Police said they handcuffed Wilson and, while attempting to apprehend her boyfriend, 27-year-old Holden Medlin, he became combative and ran away from the scene.